In this paper, we scrutinize Hanya Yanagihara’s novel A Little Life (2015) from psychoanalytic approach, focusing on trauma and identity studies. We apply Nicolas Abraham and Maria Torok’s theories of crypt, incorporation, and haunting as well as Cathy Caruth’s trauma theories to the novel and draw insights from Erving Goffman’s studies on disability and stigma to examine the profound impact of trauma on Jude’s identity. We study the protagonist’s self-perception, primarily shaped by the childhood abuse he has endured, and explore the enduring physical and mental scars that trauma leaves on the traumatized subject as represented in this novel. Furthermore, we draw upon the functionality of coping and defence mechanisms that the protagonist employs to alleviate his trauma and stigma. Through the lens of social identity, we discuss trauma’s role in shaping the traumatized individuals’ interactions with other people, and delve into some of the associated factors that foster feelings of isolation, suspicion, and unworthiness for trauma victims.